MUSIC DISCUSSION and Audio, Vinyl, related thoughts.It is a trip record, with Spalding’s magnificent bass out front, very flamenco, wonderfully Mediterranean in feel, jazz, the joy of a young artist making here first recorded statement, without major label pressure or expectations. […]

All About JazzUnlike vocalese, Spalding uses a soft, wordless pattern that allows one vowel sound to flow into the next. It’s not unlike the Portuguese sounds that often drive a bossa nova. She does sing one song with lyrics on Junjo, however, only to emphasize this point even stronger […]

allmusicThe debut recording by acoustic upright bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding, a native of Portland, OR, residing in Boston, MA, is an exercise in joy and freedom. Well rendered for such a very young musician, it’s quite notable, considering the certainty of her concept and clarity of her vision. […]